American Catholic: Conversion and Reversion: 30 Stories of the Road to Damascus

by Robert Kurland, Ph.D.

Featured on The American Catholic

Here lies the test of truth, the touchstone of evangelization: it is unthinkable that a person should accept the Word and give himself to the kingdom without becoming a person who bears witness to it and proclaims it in his turn. Pope St. Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi, 24

 

Each of us has an exclusive story that no one except God fully knows. Our experiences of conversion, renewal, and healing make up our faith story. God writes our faith story day by day, event by event, and decision by decision as we respond to that divine spark of his life that he created within us.” Nancy H.C. Ward, Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story

A New Book of Conversion Stories

Conversion stories interest the Catholic faithful (possibly because the missionary impulse that goes with faith is vicariously satisfied). So, I’m happy to announce a new book of these: “Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story,” by Nancy Ward.   (I have a special interest in promoting the book since my conversion story is one of the 30.)

A preliminary section by Nancy Ward explains why and how converts should tell their story.   Conversion stories are a tool for evangelization, as first witnessed by a famous convert, St. Paul, when he told how he heard Jesus on the road to Damascus.

Not all of the stories are strictly about conversion.  Some tell how a lukewarm Catholic faith became ardent.  And some achieved this faith at an early age by visions or voices.  Some went from “New Age” explorations of spirituality, some from atheism, some from agnosticism.  A few (including me) achieved faith by a semi-rational process, that is to say, “Top Down to Jesus.”

Read more on The American Catholic

Bob Kurland, Ph.D. contributed his testimony to Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story. He describes himself as, a “retired, cranky, old physicist. Convert to Catholicism in 1995. Trying to show that there is no contradiction between what science tells us about the world and our Catholic faith. Intermittent blogs and adult education classes to achieve this end (see RationalCatholic. Extraordinary Minister of Communion, volunteer to federal prison and hospital; lector, EOMC. Sometimes player of bass clarinet, alto clarinet, clarinet, bass, tenor bowed psaltery for parish instrumental group and local folk group.”

 

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Nancy Ward

Nancy Ward writes about conversion, Christian community, and Catholicism. After earning a journalism degree, she worked for the Diocese of Dallas newspaper and the Archbishop Sheen Center for Evangelization, then began her own editing service. She’s a regular contributor to CatholicMom.com, SpiritualDirection.com, CatholicWritersGuild.com, NewEvangelizers.com and a contributing author to The Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion. Now, through her Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story: Tools, Tips, and Testimonies workshops, retreats, book, and DVD, she shares her conversion story at Catholic parishes and conferences, equipping others to share their own stories.

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